Westy fiberglass top without canvas… issues?

[WestyMan1971]

I’m currently working on my ‘71 Westy that has a shredded canvas. I’d like to remove the fiberglass to re-gelcoat it and take care of some surface rust on the roof of the Bus. Unfortunately, buying a new canvas isn’t in the budget at the moment as I focus on other areas the Bus needs.

Would there be any issues if I were to put the fiberglass back on without the canvas? I’m mostly concerned with the roof not closing correctly and potentially leaking or being loose while driving because there’s nothing under it.
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'71 Westy "Maggie" - M-Plate

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[71whitewesty]

First off, I'd just paint the top with Interlux "off white" bright sides paint. That's what I have done with mine 15 years ago any they still look perfect.
No canvas will mean a lot more air flowing under the fiberglass top. The top will be wobbly as all get out if you open it up. The canvas helps hold the top in place by tension. But overall, you won't harm anything by running it without. But I'd sure want to figure out a way to put a new one on while your'e doing the other work.
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71 Westy 1600 DP, all stock Bus 1
1970's Snow Trac 1600 SP (sold 12/2016)
1968 Tucker sno cat, sold 2021
1969 Tucker Sno cat 542
2017 VW Alltrac
71 tin top stock 1600 DP (project but runs)
Twin 71 White Westy, Bus 2, that I pulled from a 15 year slumber in a dry eastern WA field in 2015.
1966 Sundial Camper "Boomer"

[andrewtf]

We ran one of our Riviera's without a canvas for a while.
No real issues except it did rattle a little at higher speeds and is noisier.

It has a different attachment geometry than a Westy - so this might be a factor. A riviera does not have a latch at the very front.. so air can whip around the front tub and get under the looser main roof lip.

And we used marine paint meant for fiberglass (Home Depot) and its been excellent.
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'75 Riviera - 'BIG EMMA' - Travel Beast
'77 Riviera - 'Murphy' - Daily driver in nice weather
'78 Westy - New to the family
'63 Austin Healey - sitting alone in a museum

[WestyMan1971]

[WestyMan1971]

[mikedjames]

New gelcoat may not stick too well to well to old well cooked gelcoat unless its well abraded.

Also note that gelcoat is intended to cure when between a mold and layers of laminate, in the absence of air. If you paint it on it may remain depressingly sticky until it has built up a layer of protective dirt..

You need flowcoat.

Or a really good clean and rinse , degrease, sand, fill and paint
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Ancient vehicles and vessels

1974 VW T2 : Devon Eurovette camper with 1641 DP T1 engine, Progressive carb, full flow oil cooler, EDIS crank timed ignition.
Engine 1: 40k miles (rocker shaft clip fell off), Engine 2: 30k miles (rebuild, dropped valve). Engine 3: a JK Preservation Parts "new" engine, aluminium case: 26k miles: new top end.
Gearbox rebuild 2021 by Bears.

1979 Westerly GK24 24 foot racer/cruiser yacht Forethought of Gosport.
1973 wooden Pacer sailing dinghy

[CTSkim]

I ran my 72 Westy for 3 years without a canvas, plenty of highway miles without an issue!
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Project 67 Beetle
72 Sierra Yellow Westy
82 Tin Top Vanagon

[71whitewesty]

[W1K1]

I ran mine a year without issues with no tent.

The top was painted when I got it, but it wasn’t prepped properly and there were a ton of dry spots and missing gelcoat, and the woodwork was broken or coming off.
So it got primed and painted with the interlux inside and out. Added wiring for the solar panels, a layer of insulation and some hull liner ,

I should have added a roof light while I was doing all that, but it didn’t occur to me until our first camping trip

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1973 super
1965 squareback 1500E
1971 bay window westy- subi swap

[jtauxe]

Even without canvas, I would suggest fitting it with a poptop seal. That will keep out the wind and rain, and will prevent rattles. The canvas can then wait.
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John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD

[WestyMan1971]

That top looks great.

Interlux it is.

Thanks for the info.
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'71 Westy "Maggie" - M-Plate

Parts for sale!

[TomWesty]

[richparker]

I use gel coat from Amazon. I sanded the top real good and applied with a 6” foam roller.
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